The Benefits Of Aftermarket Hoods: Adding Performance & Style

Your vehicle’s exterior is one of its most important aspects, but it does more than just dictate how the car looks. Vehicle bodies play a big part in the aerodynamics and performance of the car and making modifications can vastly improve the way the engine operates and how the vehicle moves through the air. This is especially true when it comes to the hood.

As one of the first parts of a car that meets the air and creates drag as well as the covering for the powertrain, switching to an aftermarket option like an aluminum or carbon fiber hood can make a big difference. Knowing some of the benefits of aftermarket hoods will help you decide if they are right for your vehicle and your performance goals.

Benefits of Aftermarket Hoods

Improved Cooling

One of the most important ways that a carbon fiber car hood or other aftermarket option can improve your vehicle’s performance is cooling. With high-performance engines, managing the temperature is crucial and the more horsepower your engine puts out, the hotter it will get. Stock hoods are not usually designed with cooling in mind, but aftermarket options can include all kinds of helpful features. These include things like hood scoops and vents that allow for better heat dissipation as the engine revs up. If you want your powertrain to last longer and give you better performance, a carbon fiber hood with cooling features is an excellent option.

Weight Reduction

If you have a high-performance vehicle, keeping its curb weight low should be a top priority. The lighter you can make your vehicle, the more responsive it will be and the more athletic it will feel in the corners. When looking for places to shave off weight, the hood is incredibly effective. Any carbon fiber car parts can reduce weight by quite a bit and a carbon fiber hood will bring it down fairly drastically. You might be surprised at how much a stock metal hood can weigh and replacing it will vastly improve the power-to-weight ratio.

Increased Airflow

Your vehicle uses a mixture of fuel and air to produce combustion inside the cylinder. If the flow of air isn’t sufficient, though, you can end up with power loss and a sluggish accelerator pedal. Aftermarket hoods with airflow features like scoops are a great way to improve the airflow into the intake manifold and get a better, more powerful explosion inside the engine. Plus, cooler air has a higher concentration of oxygen, which is better for the combustion process, and scoops can help cool down the air and make it as concentrated as possible.

Customization Options

If you are looking to improve your vehicle’s style and give it an aesthetic boost, an aftermarket hood is one of your best options. High-performance hoods with scoops and vents are synonymous with American muscle cars and can give your vehicle the classic look you are going for. Carbon fiber hoods and other aftermarket options can take your car’s style to the next level and give it a unique look that will help set it apart from other vehicles on the road.

How to Choose the Right Aftermarket Hood for Your Vehicle

Finding the right aftermarket hood for your vehicle is dependent on what your specific needs are and the look you are going for. If you want a hood that can help improve engine performance and cooling, vents and scoops are essential. They can reduce the risk of overheating and help facilitate a more oxygen-rich environment, which will almost always translate to more power and more efficient operation.

If improvements in style are more important to you, then you should have a good idea of what kind of look you want. While complex hood designs with lots of vents or a scoop can be unique and stylish, you may want something that is more understated and sleeker instead. Carbon fiber hoods come in a range of different styles, and they can completely transform the look of your car. No matter what you are looking for, you can usually achieve it with an aftermarket hood.

When you want the best selection of carbon fiber hoods and other aftermarket options, AmericanMuscle is your source. Our wide range of painted and unpainted hoods with all kinds of accessories and designs will help you find something that suits your style and your performance needs. Plus, with fast shipping, you don’t have to wait to get your car looking and running as well as possible.